06-21-2011, 04:12 PM | #11 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Tenerife (Spain)
Posts: 3,719
|
Re: Speeds for Gears.
Quote:
You give it more throttle & you speed up. You get to the point when you haven't any throttle left, but it still wants to go. This is when you need to change up. I know this is really basic, but it's just a way of trying to get the VERY basics across. :2tup:
__________________
By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman. Login or Register to Remove Ads |
|
|
06-22-2011, 12:44 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Anaheim, CA
Posts: 2,926
|
Re: Speeds for Gears.
Main thing I changed after riding a while is I upped the speeds considerably before I shifted. I don't know if this means I will kill the engine earlier than otherwise, but in second and third I wind it up pretty good (even if you can't hear it - which I find hard to believe, you should be able to "feel" the engine/transmission) and I generally don't use fifth unless I am going flat/downhill/no wind. The bike will do 65 in fourth. Never use fifth gear when going up hill. I'll go as high as 25 in second and 40 in third.
The thing is, shifting based purely on speed and revs is only going to work under one specific set of conditions. You have to consider hills, wind, etc. as well and adjust accordingly. On my other bike, I got a lot more torque and I tend to shift a lot faster (lower RPM's) even at 70 I'm only at 3K in fifth.
__________________
[hr:5yt6ldkq][/hr:5yt6ldkq] http://alanmarkcorcoran.com Motorcycles, Music, Musings and Moreā¦ |
|
06-22-2011, 01:44 AM | #13 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Posts: 444
|
Re: Speeds for Gears.
I'm shifting at higher speeds now, too. In fact, I notice a harmonic buzz in the frame at certain speeds which turns out to be about 7000rpm. That's about when I shift, unless I'm REALLY in a hurry, and I let it wind up a bit more.
As for hearing the engine..... get ear plugs. The good ones will cut out almost all the wind noise leaving you with the low frequency stuff like engine, talking, car horns, etc... I'm spoiled now; I won't ride more than a few blocks without them; can't stand wind noise.
__________________
Lovin' every minute of it. 2005 GZ250 (sold after 26000km) 2013 CB500XA Login or Register to Remove Ads |
|
07-08-2011, 01:40 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Queens, NYC
Posts: 1,263
|
Re: Speeds for Gears.
I got ear plugs now too, lets see if they help me.
|
|
07-08-2011, 02:48 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Posts: 444
|
Re: Speeds for Gears.
Trouble is, for a newbie there's no point of reference at all. He's rolling along and the bike's vibrating and the engine's buzzing and he's worrying that the motor's about to explode. But, it's actually just doing what a GZ250 does at 7 grand. It's pretty happy to go somewhat faster with no ill effects. Once he absorbs the numbers we've posted above, and goes out and rides and sees what that feels like he'll be learn how to 'listen' to the bike (with his ears and his butt).
__________________
Lovin' every minute of it. 2005 GZ250 (sold after 26000km) 2013 CB500XA |
|
07-08-2011, 07:29 PM | #17 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Florida
Posts: 33
|
Re: Speeds for Gears.
My Gz didn't come with a tach. I am going by soiund, but like Cayuse said, I have really no reference. I have put about 400+ miles on my GZ, and I really got the hang of shifting. I over rev the engine at times I think, but that's only because I have been told it is better to over rev than to lug. I get stuck in traffic where people want to ride at 33.4 mph, and it's either lug it in 4th, or rev it a little in 3rd.
All in all, I think I am just going to install a 16T front sprocket for smoother riding. lol. |
|
07-08-2011, 07:34 PM | #18 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Florida
Posts: 33
|
Re: Speeds for Gears.
Quote:
1st-2nd 5,000 2nd-3rd 5,000-6,000 3rd-4th 5,000-6,000 (actually I hardly ever get passed 5,500 according to that chart. Only sometimes when I am not looking, and then the engine is screaming) 4th-5th 5,500 (past 5,500, I usually shift from 4th to 5th. If I am about to go up a hill pushing 45mph, I will let off the throttle a little as going up, and then pull back down on it. I stay in 4th though). So according to my numbers.. I haven't been lugging or over revving have I? |
|
07-08-2011, 09:03 PM | #19 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: anaheim california
Posts: 96
|
Re: Speeds for Gears.
hi all
i haven't really figured the shifting thing out completely. have installed a tach and its 500 rpm higher then the rest of the worlds for some reason. at 30 mph it reads 3500 at 35 it reads 4000... being a newbie i like 4000 as a shift point the engine doesn't sound like its straining. when it hits 4000 shift ! don't know if its right or wrong perhaps some knowledgeable person will correct me if i'm wrong. i have yet to take it over 6000 cause i haven't hit 600 miles yet..... safe biking grego |
|
07-08-2011, 09:03 PM | #20 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: anaheim california
Posts: 96
|
Re: Speeds for Gears.
hi all
i haven't really figured the shifting thing out completely. have installed a tach and its 500 rpm higher then the rest of the worlds for some reason. at 30 mph it reads 3500 at 35 it reads 4000... being a newbie i like 4000 as a shift point the engine doesn't sound like its straining. when it hits 4000 shift ! don't know if its right or wrong perhaps some knowledgeable person will correct me if i'm wrong. i have yet to take it over 6000 cause i haven't hit 600 miles yet..... safe biking grego |
|
|
|